Catamenial sack



(No Model.)

P. W. DAUTRIUH.

GATAMENIAL SACK.

Patented Mar. 19, 1895 P712121}? WDau/Zr'ch.

rm: Nonms PETERS ca. ml'cxumq. wuummou. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

PHILIP W. DAUTRICH, OF CONWAY SPRINGS, KANSAS.

CATAMENIAL SACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,980, dated March 19, 1895.

Application filed August 6, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP W. DAUTRIoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Conway Springs, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Catamenial Sack, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to surgical apparatus, and particularly to catamenial sacks; and the objects in view are to provide .a simple, inexpensive, and efificient device adapted to be attached to the body during the menstrual period to support the. womb and protect the person and clothing of the wearer from the discharge; to provide means whereby the sack may be readily and expeditiously cleaned without removing the upper end thereof from the vagina or detaching the supporting devices which are secured externally to the body of the wearer; and -t0 provide aconstruction whereby the exterior portion of the sack remains in a, flat condition when empty, and thus aifords no inconvenience to the wearer.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention, with the parts arranged in their operative positions. Fig. 2 is a detail view, in section of the sack proper, detached.

Similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawings.

The sack, proper, l, of the improved device, is open at both ends, and is tubular in construction, the same being adapted to lie fiat, or with the opposite sides in contact, when not extended by its contents, as shown in Fig. 1. This tubular body portion is preferably provided near its upper end with a reduced or contracted portion forming a neck 2, whereby when in use the cloaca'will not be distended even when the sack becomes filled.

The sack terminates at its upper end in an enlarged and thickened ringor seat 3 which is adapted to rest in the vaginal canal and support the uterus during menstruation, as it is known that the womb falls more or less during these periods and such falling is the cause Serial No. 519.592- (No model.)

of the pains in the back of the patient.- The enlargement of the ring or seat prevents displacement of the sack by the movements of the body of the wearer, and'the thickened and rounded construction thereof forms a proper seat for the uterus by receiving the same Within its circumference. Furthermore,

the ring or seat is preferably secured permanently to the upper end of the tube forming the body of the sack, to provide an integral construction, and therefore the liability of separation of the parts is reduced to a minimum. The entire sack including the ring or seat is constructed of soft rubber, to avoid chafing or otherwise inconveniencing the wearer, and the flexibility of the ring allows it to yield freely with the movements of the body of the wearer and to be compressed and contracted when introduced.

As above mentioned the lower, as well as the upper, end of the sack is open, the same having slightly thickened edges as shown at 4, and normally this lower end is closed by means of a clamp 5, which engages the sack adjacent to the edges of the outlet opening and presses them tightly together. The clamp may be spring actuated, as shown.

It is obvious that when it is desired to empty the contents of the sack it may be accomplished by removing the clamp by which the outlet opening is closed, without remov ing the ring or seat from the vagina.

The means which I have shown for supporting the clamp, and hence the exterior or lower end of the sack consists of a belt 6, to

encircle the waist of the wearer, the ends of the same being connected by means of a buckle 7; metallic slides 8 and 9 mounted upon the belt in front and rear, respectively, and adapted to be adjusted to suit the size of the person so as to occupy positions at the front and back; a suspending band 10 attached at its front and rear ends, respectively, to said front and rear slides, and pro- Y vided with a buckle 11 whereby its length may be adjusted; and a slide 12 mounted upon said suspending band'and carrying the clamp 5. p y

A further advantage of the above described construction is that when the ring at the upper end of the sack is inserted in the vagina and brought in contact with the uterus a suction is produced which draws said riu g around the mouth of the uterus; and resulting from the above action is a further advantage, in that the upper and lower ends of the sack being closed, air-tight, the escape of an offensive odor is prevented. Thus, the above described clamp performs a dual function, by forming the means of attachment of the lower end of the sack to the supporting band, and serving as the closure for the open end thereof; and when the clamp is opened to discharge the contents of the sack the same is released from the band to allow the latter to be moved out of the way during the emptying of the receptacle.

Although the drawings show the suspending band attached at its front and rear ends to the centers of the front and back of the belt, it is obvious that they may be arranged more or less to one side to arrange the lower portion thereof in contact with the inner side of one of the thighs, and thus out of the way of the lower end of the sack. Hence, the end of the sack may be turned up, as shown in the drawings, to form a loop in the lowermost portion of which the discharge accumulates. When the end of the sack is released to empty the discharge, the clamp is supported by the suspending band, and when the clamp is engaged with the sack the weight of the contents of the device is partly supported by the band. The exterior pendent portion of the sack is thus prevented from swinging and striking the limbs of the wearer.

In practice, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination with a. supporting device adapted to be attached to the body of a wearer, and a clamp attached to and carried by the supporting device, of a sack of flexible material having normally open upperand lower ends, and having its upper end flared and thickened to form a ring whereby the upper portion of the sack is supported, the sack being engaged and held temporarily closed at its lower end by said clamp and being free of any connection at its upper end, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP W. DAUTRICH.

Witnesses:

E. G. FARRIS, J. J. EVANS; 

